New Delhi, April 23
The 10-day nationwide truckers’ strike was today called off following negotiations between the All-India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and the government.
During discussions between Road Transport Minister B.C. Khanduri, Petroleum Minister Ram Naik and truckers’ representatives, led by AIMTC president Baba Sahab Dhoomal, the government agreed to most major demands, sources said.
The sources said the government agreed on setting up a committee to discuss the contentious toll tax issue.
The Transport Ministry agreed to refer the issue of excise duty of Rs 10,000 on truck chassis, whose removal was sought by the AIMTC, to the Finance Ministry for reconsideration.
During the meeting, Mr Ram Naik assured the truckers that he would request national oil companies to advance the downward revision in diesel prices, due on April 30, the sources said.
AIMTC general secretary J.M. Saksena said the government had agreed to nine of the 10 demands.
The Centre yesterday appealed to the agitating truckers to call off their strike as it would help in creating a congenial
atmosphere.
“My request to the striking transporters has been that in as much as there is no difference of opinion on most of the demands, it will help in creating a congenial atmosphere by calling off their agitation”, Mr Khanduri told the Lok Sabha yesterday.
The seven demands of the AIMTC, which the minister claimed had no difference of opinion with the government were: repeal order pertaining to 15-year-old vehicles; insurance companies be disciplined; non-inclusion of transporters under VAT; minimum freight rates for trucks; national permit scheme be made logical; computerisation of driving licences and registration books; and amendment in the Carriers Act, 1865.
The truckers had also demanded that diesel prices be made stable and uniform all over the country and the pricing mechanism be made transparent, control over overloading be made effective, and IRDA norms be adhered to by insurance companies.
